Special Containment Procedures: Six (6) live instances of SCP-XXX-3 are housed at Site-██ within their Class D hosts. Should a host degrade beyond the baseline indicated by Manual XXX.40.c, they are to be incinerated and a new host chosen from existing Class D personnel. Ideally, an SCP-XXX-1 instance produced by the previous host should be used to infect the replacement.

A lot of ten (10) SCP-XXX-1 instances per host are to be stored on site within a biohazard containment unit. Expired instances will be replaced with new ones produced by SCP-XXX-3 at the earliest opportunity.

All SCP-XXX-3 hosts discovered in the wild must receive a cursory medical and psychological examination prior to termination and incineration. In addition, any pharmacies, supermarkets, or convenience stores within the same population centre are to have their stock replaced and be monitored for at least three (3) months for additional SCP-XXX-3 hosts.

A public service campaign against the use of cotton swabs for cleaning the ear canal has been partially successful in curbing the spread of SCP-XXX.

For the purposes of security, all cotton swabs are banned from Site-██ and any personnel found in possession of them are to be interrogated and tested for SCP-XXX infection.

Description: SCP-XXX refers to a parasitic protist with characteristics similar to a plasmodial slime mold. The organism exists in three defined stages. The dormant stage, designated SCP-XXX-1, is superficially identical to a ██████ brand cotton swab. The handle of SCP-XXX-1 consists of specialized cells with chitinous walls, rather than cellulose found in a typical ██████ brand swab. The substance found on the ends resembles cotton. However, each strand is a single cell tasked with producing spores when in physical contact with human sepum. Testing has shown that sepum from other species has no effect on spore production.

Most dermal contact with SCP-XXX spores will not lead to infection, with the notable exception of contact within the ear canal. When used in this way, the skin readily absorbs the spores which enter the blood stream and become SCP-XXX-2. This stage lasts for at most 72 hours before cells pass the blood-brain barrier and transform into SCP-XXX-3. During this time period, antimalarial medications have been effective in fighting the infection.

SCP-XXX-3 feeds off of neural tissue. When cells enter the central nervous system, the majority will migrate to the prefrontal cortex. There, they will replace existing neurons, maintaining the same neurological structure, though not replicating the cells' functions. Using the neural connections, SCP-XXX-3 will spread to other cells, eventually merging with other infected areas.

Once approximately 30% of the prefrontal cortex has been replaced, a process which takes approximately 96 hours, the infection will begin to spread into the limbic system, leaving the remaining neural tissue unmolested during this time. The nasal cavity is converted into a specialized structure capable of producing new instances of SCP-XXX-1 at a rate of approximately one every three hours. Hosts are typically alarmed when SCP-XXX-1 instances begin emerging from their nostrils, though this stops within 24 hours as SCP-XXX-3 spreads to additional brain regions.

As SCP-XXX-3 spreads, the host's behaviour will change. There will be a marked decline in social activity unless there is any mention of ██████ brand cotton swabs, at which point they will speak about the benefits of this product and offer samples which are typically SCP-XXX-1. They will also seek out all shopping establishments which are likely to sell ██████ brand cotton swabs so as to place SCP-XXX-1 instances into existing packaging.

Later stages of SCP-XXX-3 infection will manifest as erratic movements as the cerebellum is compromised and significant weight loss as the body's resources are used for production of SCP-XXX-1. A diet supplemented with high protein intake will offset the weight loss for a time, depending on the physical state and income of the host. Death will ultimately result once 75% of all neural tissue is replaced with SCP-XXX-3. SCP-XXX-1 production will continue as SCP-XXX-3 uses its own biomass to create further instances. Due to loss of a steady oxygen source, many of these instances will be deformed or will display properties more typical of a generic slime mold during its mobile phase.

Addendum: Due to the clear connection to the ██████ brand, investigation into ████████ ██████ and their competitor ███████ █ ███████ was considered prudent. Records kept by both corporations included mention of [PLACEHOLDER], described by executives as a marketing firm.

Enhanced interrogation techniques confirmed that executive staff were not privy to major details. All that is known of the methods used was that ████████ ██████ were promised an increase in sales whereas ███████ █ ███████ had funded a negative advertising campaign through [PLACEHOLDER].

The address of [PLACEHOLDER], the same in both companies' records, is of a dirt lot with a metal shed at its centre. The shed was empty of contents, save for a sign, written in White Out on cardboard, indicating the relocation of the local branch. Employees shown photographs of the location confirm that the property appears as they had last seen it.

Document XXX-3.a:
Transcription of sign affixed to the door or [PLACEHOLDER]

WE HAVE MOVED

WE DONT WANT TO BUT WE DONT HAVE A CHOICE

BUT IF U WANT OUR SURSERVE STUFF JUST GIVE US A JINGLE AND WELL COME RUNNING

Addendum: Due to the clear connection to the ██████ brand, investigation into ████████ ██████ and their competitor ███████ █ ███████ was considered prudent. Records from both corporations suggest that SCP-XXX was released by each independently. While ████████ ██████ viewed it as an effective viral marketing strategy, the executives of ███████ █ ███████ chose to employ it as a longer term negative marketing campaign, once its existence is unveiled.

Due to the unlikelihood of both companies releasing the organism simultaneously, further research was required. Enhanced interrogation techniques revealed that executives from both were contacted by individuals from a marketing firm called [PLACEHOLDER]. Despite there being no official records of this agency, field agents have been instructed to contact the Foundation in the event that any further evidence of their existence is found.

Special Containment Procedures: Site-██ has been constructed around SCP-XXX for the purposes of containment and research. SCP-XXX is located within an enclosed courtyard at the site, with walls no less than 50 meters from the object. Personnel may not approach SCP-XXX closer than this distance. Research personnel who intend to directly view SCP-XXX are advised to either physically brace themselves or be seated, in order to prevent personal injury. Should lensing or stress metrics exceed those dictated in Document XXX-23A, personnel must temporarily evacuate the site and assemble at the secondary command centre until an all clear is sounded.

Eight video recording units are situated at the vertices of the courtyard in order to detect lensing events. The visual data are also fed to a specialized modeling program which has been effective in mapping the greater structure of the object. Should video surveilance fail to detect distortions, a separate redundant set of stress sensors are located throughout Site-██ and directly networked into the site's alarm system.

In response to Incident XXX-15, any further tests which may result in physical damage to SCP-XXX must first be approved by the Site Director, Research Head, and Head of Site Security.

Description: SCP-XXX refers to an objected located in [DATA REDACTED] which, when first discovered, appeared to drastically change shape and size, while also causing intense distortions of space in its general vicinity. These distortions make precise measurements impossible, however estimates place the average dimension of SCP-XXX at any given time to be approximately 2.5 meters in diameter.

Though the shape of SCP-XXX is variable, there is a consistency in the types of features observed in its surface. SCP-XXX will typically display ridges and peaks along its surface, arranged following a simple fractal set. The surface exhibits dichroism, reflecting different frequencies of visible light, depending upon the angle at which it is viewed.

The majority of observed spatial distortions have been found to occur prior to the emergence or loss of a surface prominence. Furthermore, secondary manifestations of SCP-XXX have been detected, resulting in far greater distortions. These will, given time, merge with the central mass.

The spatial distortions of SCP-XXX are distinct from the relativistic warping of space-time, in that there is no associated gravitational pull, nor any detectable time dilation. Nonetheless, there are two primary effects that result from it. The first is the deflection of radiation that passes close to SCP-XXX, producing an effect similar to gravitational lensing. Though it causes some vertigo when directly observed, this effect generally has no harmful effects. The second is the tendency of nearby materials to conform to the geometry in the vicinity. More maleable materials will deform themselves while harder objects will typically fracture. The force required for matter to enter a distortion is equivalent to that needed for reshaping or damaging said matter. When a maleable object is introduced into one of these distortions, it will have a tendency to maintain its shape and position, unless additional force is acted upon it, resulting in the appearance of the object hovering in place.

Through observation and some invasive testing, it was ultimately determined that SCP-XXX is an object consisting of at least four or more spatial dimensions which is embedded in our own three-dimensional space. The object is passing through our space at a constant, yet indeterminate, rate which is theorized to be between 0.5 and 2 meters per day. The general shape of the object is cylindrical, with the surface consisting of two enclosed dimensions and one extended dimension. The ridges and other prominences seen are resultant from features upon this three-dimensional surface.

The observed spatial distortions are caused by an effect similar to that of surface tension acting on the object, with our three-dimensional space acting as the membrane. As the features on the surface of SCP-XXX enter or leave the interface, said interface will distort until the surface tension excedes the force exhibited by it, at which point it rebounds, causing a flatening of the spatial metric.

With this knowledge, a modeling program has been developed which utilizes past and present observations to map the higher dimension structure of SCP-XXX. Three-dimensional cross-sections of the model have been described by researchers as resembling the limb of an insect, though on a scale far greater than what is observed in nature. The results of Experiment XXX-56, which caused Incident XXX-15, in addition to the observed dichroism, have corroborated the theory that SCP-XXX is biological in origin.

This determination has solved a mystery with the observed motion of the object. It was found early on that SCP-XXX appears to rotate in accordance with the sidereal motion of the Earth. The fact that it does so, while remaining in a fixed position, relative to the planet's surface, suggests some form of limited intelligence. Methods to determine the extent of this intelligence, while also avoiding a repeat of Incident XXX-15, are currently under consideration.

Incidents and Experiments of Note:

Experiment XXX-12: During a period of relatively weak spatial distortion, a small radio beacon was attached to the surface of SCP-XXX. The beacon was programmed to provide a time stamp every ten seconds. In accordance with the theory of the object's extradimensional nature, the beacon vanished and the signal produced could no longer be detected. During conditions favourable for its use, specialized detection equipment placed against the surface of SCP-XXX was able to resolve the signal produced by the beacon. As hoped, the beacon had become embedded in the three-dimensional surface of SCP-XXX, allowing the device to broadcast its signal along it. Over time, distortion of the signal was found, caused by localized warps and singularities resultant from surface features and some attenuation was apparent, likely due to the surface not being ideally smooth. Despite this, the time stamp from the strongest and most recent signals could still be reconstructed. Twenty-eight days after attachment of the beacon, additional time stamps could no longer be found. Echoes from the lateral propagation of radiation along the surface mark the final signal being time stamp 243865, indicating that the beacon had stopped broadcasting at approximately 28 days, 5 hours, 24 minutes, 10 seconds. This suggests that either the beacon had been damaged by an outside force or that it had passed through a second discontinuity produced by another three-dimensional membrane.

Incident XXX-10: At 13:45 on ██/██/20██, a large spatial distortion was observed twelve meters from the central mass of SCP-XXX. Over a period of five days, a secondary structure emerged from the centre of the distortion with features and size analogous to SCP-XXX. Six days after initial emergence an additional object appeared, five meters from the central mass. Over a period of approximately one month, a total of five objects had manifested. While the central mass remained fixed, the positions of the secondary objects relative to it varied with time. In addition to following the same sidereal rotation as the primary object, they were observed to move away from it, up to a maximum distance of thirty meters. Over approximately eighteen months, all secondary objects gradually coalesced into the central mass at the same point and time. The average size of SCP-XXX after this incident was estimated to have permanently increased by approximately 25%. During much of the event, the individual spatial distortions, and interaction between distortions, posed sufficient risk that personnel were forced to temporarily evacuate to what is now dubbed the secondary command centre. Special containment procedures had been amended with this incident in mind.

Experiment XXX-56 and Incident XXX-15: A period of weak spatial distortion around SCP-XXX had been observed, allowing a remote controlled robotic probe to approach the object in an attempt to take a core sample. The surface of SCP-XXX yielded more readily than expected, allowing the bore to pierce it and enter five centimeters before the object reacted. A secondary manifestation quickly appeared, destroying the probe and causing intense distortions, and then disappeared, rather than merging with the central mass as previous secondary manifestations would. Significant damage was caused to Site-██ due to the resulting erratic movement of SCP-XXX and a number of site staff received injuries, caused either by the collapsing structure or direct exposure to spatial distortions. SCP-XXX ultimately settled approximately eight meters northwest of its initial position and resumed its normal activity. A viscous fluid was found throughout Site-██ and also pooled near SCP-XXX for several hours. Samples continue to defy chemical analysis, seeming to continuously change their properties over time. It is believed that this is due to the presence of four-dimensional chemicals rotating through our own three-dimensional space.

Excerpt from Presentation by Dr. L███:

Okay, we've anticipated that some of the uninitiated are going to have trouble wrapping their heads around the concept of this thing. So the team and I have put together a simplified analogy by removing one of the dimensions from the equation. Imagine that you have a soap bubble. Just for fun, you poke your finger through it, being very careful not to pop it. What you wind up with is the bubble trying to maintain its lowest energy shape while also accomodating the foreign object that's sticking out of it. Simply put, the bubble becomes dimpled around your finger.

Now imagine that there are little two-dimensional beasties floating around on the surface of the bubble. With their limited perceptions, they would see your finger as a roughly circular object embedded in a warp in the fabric of space, the dimple. What we're saying is that SCP-XXX is that finger, our universe is the soap bubble, and we are the little beasties. Except the finger we're seeing is at least kilometers-long, the soap bubble is the size of the universe, and a lot of us don't like to be called little beasties if we can help it.

[…]

Specifically relating to Incident XXX-15, imagine that one of the little beasties I mentioned earlier pokes your finger with something sharp. You're going to react by trying to shake off the irritant or swat it away with your other hand. Or both. That's what we believe we saw in the aftermath of Experiment XXX-56. The core we removed was perceived by SCP-XXX as an injury. It reacted to the injury in the same way any living thing would. And, considering what happens to a soap bubble when we do something like that, we can only hope that the analogy we've been using in this presentation isn't exact.